Ben Venue
Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 1:36 pm
Started off Ben Venue and took the wrong path which lead us on a nice wee warm-up circular walk right back to the car park where we started 10 minutes earlier! After not such a great start we took the correct path and headed off to find the start of the ascent to Ben Venue. We had been told by Scott our friend and fellow walker in the office that Ben Venue was very boggy in places so we all had our Gaitors with us. Turned out it wasnt quite as bad as I had envisaged, though still boggy. Weather was lovely to start with but as soon as we came out of the Forrest walk and started heading up the incline, the rain started.
I enjoyed this hill and found it quite challenging especially at the scrambling parts. Just wish the weather had been better.
Before we reached the first summit we came across a mini cairn so we had to stop and pose of course.
After a bit of a scramble to get to the first false summit we gave a few sighs when we realised it was another good half hour minimum before we would reach the real summit, plus it was getting rather windy and the clouds were rolling in. That said, we did manage the up down, up down efforts to finally reach the summit and after unloading our rucksacks we carefully approached the Cairn for some necessary photo opps but had to cling tightly onto the cairn as the wind nearly knocked us of our feet!
The views were well worth it and the cloud stayed away just long enough for us to get some nice photos of the rainbow overlooking Loch Katrine
After not even 10 minutes at the summit the girls hands were like ice (they had forgotten to pack their gloves) so I shared mine with them and gave Lou my ridiculous looking furry hat (no vanity in the mountains eh?) and we headed back down. I was overjoyed that we had done this one as I have seen it many times from Ben Aan and was desperate to do it.
The forest was a welcome sight as we knew it wasn't too far after that and at least didnt involve any more scrambling.
Stopped off for a nice glass of wine at the wee pub in Aberfoyle, had a laugh at the funny photos (not showing those!) and headed off, another wee conquest completed, well done girls!
I enjoyed this hill and found it quite challenging especially at the scrambling parts. Just wish the weather had been better.
Before we reached the first summit we came across a mini cairn so we had to stop and pose of course.
After a bit of a scramble to get to the first false summit we gave a few sighs when we realised it was another good half hour minimum before we would reach the real summit, plus it was getting rather windy and the clouds were rolling in. That said, we did manage the up down, up down efforts to finally reach the summit and after unloading our rucksacks we carefully approached the Cairn for some necessary photo opps but had to cling tightly onto the cairn as the wind nearly knocked us of our feet!
The views were well worth it and the cloud stayed away just long enough for us to get some nice photos of the rainbow overlooking Loch Katrine
After not even 10 minutes at the summit the girls hands were like ice (they had forgotten to pack their gloves) so I shared mine with them and gave Lou my ridiculous looking furry hat (no vanity in the mountains eh?) and we headed back down. I was overjoyed that we had done this one as I have seen it many times from Ben Aan and was desperate to do it.
The forest was a welcome sight as we knew it wasn't too far after that and at least didnt involve any more scrambling.
Stopped off for a nice glass of wine at the wee pub in Aberfoyle, had a laugh at the funny photos (not showing those!) and headed off, another wee conquest completed, well done girls!